• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.341-347
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• 2023

In PEMFC, PtCo/C alloy catalysts are widely used because of good performance and durability. However, few studies have been reported on the durability of carbon supports of PtCo/C evaluated at high voltages (1.0~1.5 V). In this study, the durability of PtCo/C catalysts and Pt/C catalysts were compared after applying the accelerated degradation protocol of catalyst support. After repeating the 1.0↔1.5V voltage change cycles, the mass activity, electrochemical surface area (ECSA), electric double layer capacitance (DLC), Pt dissolution and the particle growth were analyzed. After 2,000 cycles of voltage change, the current density per catalyst mass at 0.9V decreased by more than 1.5 times compared to the Pt/C catalyst. This result was because the degradation rate of the carbon support of the PtCo/C catalyst was higher than that of the Pt/C catalyst. The Pt/C catalyst showed more than 1.5 times higher ECSA reduction than the PtCo/C catalyst, but the corrosion of the carbon support of the Pt/C catalyst was small, resulting in a small decrease in I-V performance. In order to improve the high voltage durability of the PtCo/C catalyst, it was shown that improving the durability of the carbon support is essential.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2024

Fuel gases such as methane and propane are used in explosion hazardous area of domestic plants and can form non-uniform mixtures with the influence of process conditions due to leakage. The fire-explosion risk assessment using literature data measured under uniform mixtures, damage prediction can be obtained the different results from actual explosion accidents by gas leaks. An explosion characteristics such as explosion pressure and flame velocity of non-uniform gas mixtures with concentration change similar to that of facility leak were examined. The experiments were conducted in a closed 0.82 m long stainless steel duct with observation recorded by color high speed camera and piezo pressure sensor. Also we proposed the quantification method of non-uniform mixtures from a regression analysis model on the change of concentration difference with time in explosion duct. For the non-uniform condition of this study, the area of flame surface enlarged with increasing the concentration non-uniform in the flame propagation of methane and was similar to the wrinkled flame structure existing in a turbulent flame. The time to peak pressure of methane decreased as the non-uniform increased and the explosion pressure increased with increasing the non-uniform. The ranges of K_G (Deflagration index) of methane with the concentration non-uniform were 1.30 to 1.58 [MPa·m/s] and the increase rate of K_G was 17.7% in methane with changing from uniform to non-uniform.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2015

Local heating system providing hot air locally to growing parts including shoot apex and flower cluster which were temperature-sensitive organs of cherry tomato was developed to reduce energy consumption for greenhouse heating without decline of crop growth. Growing part following local heating system was composed of double duct distributer which connected inner and outer ducts with hot air heater and winder which moved ducts up and down following growing parts with plant growth. Growing part local heating system was compared with conventional bottom duct heating system with respect to distributions of air and leaf surface temperatures according to height, growth characteristics and energy consumption. By growing part local heating, air temperature around growing part was maintained $0.9{\sim}2.0^{\circ}C$ higher than that of lower part of crop and leaf surface temperature was also stratified according to height. Investigations on crop growth characteristics and crop yield showed no statistically significant difference except for plant height between bottom duct heating and growing part local heating. As a result, the growing part local heating system consumed 23.7% less heating energy than the bottom duct heating system without decrease of crop yield.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2008

Metal filter elements were newly introduced to the high temperature filter(HTF) system in the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste vitrification plant. In order to evaluate the performance of various metal materials as filter media, elements made of AISI 316L, AISI 904L, and Inconel 600 were included to the test set of filter elements. At the visual inspection to the elements performed after completion of each test, a few dark spots were observed on the surface of some elements. Especially they were found much more at the AISI 316L elements than others. To check the dark spots are the corrosion phenomena or not, two kinds of analyses were performed to the tested filter elements. Firstly, the surfaces or the cross sections of filter specimens cut out from both normal area and dark spot area of elements were analyzed by SEM/EDS. The results showed that the dark spots were not evidences of corrosion but the deposition of sodium, sulfur and silica compounds volatilized from waste or molten glass. Secondly, the ring tensile strength were analyzed for the ring-shape filter specimens cut out from each kind of element. The result obtained from the strength tested showed no evidence of corrosion as well. Conclusionally, depending on the two kinds of analysis, no evidences of corrosion were found at the tested metal filter elements. But the dark spots formed on the surface could reduce the effective filtering area and increase the overall pressure drop of HTF system. Thus, continuous heating inside filter housing up to dew point will be required normally. And a few long-period test should be followed for the exact evaluation of corrosion of the metal filter elements.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.656-664
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• 2010

We investigated the levels and distribution patterns of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 12 Coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the surface sediments from the Nakdong river basin, Korea. The levels of 16 PAHs and 12 Co-PCBs in the river sediment samples ranged from not detected (N.D.)~969.3 ng/g-dry, 4.2~7716.5 pg/g-dry (0.0~10.1 pg-TEQ/g-dry), respectively. Also, the levels of 16 PAHs were from 5.8~2987.2 ng/g-dry and 4.3~461.1 pg/g-dry (0.0~0.6 pg-TEQ/g-dry) for 12 Co-PCBs in the lake sediment samples. Only dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) were detected among target OCPs and the concentration ranged from N.D.~1.5 ng/g-dry in the river sediment samples. These contamination levels were far below the guideline values suggested for environmental quality assessment. Low molecular weight PAHs were dominant in the river sediment samples, while middle and high molecular weight PAHs were dominant among 16 PAHs in the lake sediment samples. PCB-118 and PCB-105 were predominant congeners in the sediment, which were similar to the results obtained from previous studies. With these results, the assessment of potential sources of PAHs and Co-PCBs contamination in the sediments of the Nakdong river basin was performed. The pyrogenic-PAHs originated from combustion of fossil fuel and biomass were related with the PAHs contribution in most of the sediment samples, and Co-PCBs in the sediment samples were related with commercial PCB products.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2020

Dissolved hexavalent uranium can exist in the form of several different chemical species. Furthermore, species distributions depend on the pH value of the aqueous solution. Representatively, UO₂²⁺, UO₂OH⁺, (UO₂)₂(OH)₂²⁺, and (UO₂)₃(OH)₅⁺ species coexist in solutions at acidic and circumneutral pH values. When amorphous silica particles are suspended in an aqueous solution, the dissolved chemical species are easily adsorbed onto silica surfaces. In this study, it was examined whether the species distribution of the adsorbed U(VI) on a silica surface followed that of the dissolved U(VI) in an aqueous solution. Time-resolved luminescence spectra of three different dissolved species (UO₂²⁺, UO₂OH⁺, and (UO₂)₃(OH)₅⁺) and two different adsorbed species (≡SiO₂UO₂, ≡SiO₂(UO₂)OH^-, or ≡SiO₂(UO₂)₃(OH)^5-) were measured in the pH range 3.5-7.5. The spectral shapes of these chemical species were compared by changing the pH value; consequently, it was confirmed that the species distribution of the adsorbed U(VI) species was different from that of the dissolved U(VI) species.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2010

The LCC (Liquid Cadmium Cathode) structure to be developed for inhibiting the formation and growth of the uranium dendrite has been known as a key part in the electrowinning process for the simultaneous recovering of uranium and TRU (TRans Uranium) elements from spent fuels. A zinc-gallium (Zn-Ga) experimental system which is able to be functional in aqueous condition and normal temperature has been set up to observe the formation and growth phenomena of the metal dendrites on liquid cathode. The growth of the zinc dendrites on the gallium cathode and the performance of the existing stirrer type and pounder type cathode structure were observed. Although the mechanical strength of the dendrites appeared to be weak in the electrolyte and easily crashed by the various cathode structures, it was difficult to effectively submerge the dendrite into the bottom of the liquid cathode. Based on the results of the aqueous phase experiments, a lab-scale electrowinning experimental apparatus which are applicable to the development of LCC srtucture for the electrowinning process was established and the performance tests of the different types of LCC structure were conducted to prohibit the uranium dendrite growth on LCC surface. The experimental results of the stirrer type LCC structures have shown that they could not effectively remove the uranium dendrites growing at the inner side of the LCC crucible and the performances of the paddle and harrow type LCC structure were similar. Therefore a mesh type LCC structure was developed to push down the uranium dendrites to the bottom of the LCC crucible growing on the LCC surface and at the inner side of the crucible. From the experimental results for the performance test of the mesh type LCC structure, the uranium was recovered over 5 wt% in cadmium without the growth of uranium dendrites. After completion of the experiments, solid precipitates of the bottom of the LCC crucible were identified as an intermetallic compound (UCd11) by the chemical analysis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 1979

Through several trials that has done for making the fertilizing-counter plan on the soil improving species, some results have been got as follows; 1. In the non-phosphorus dressing plots soil improving species have very poor survial ratio and show us to be died step by step. It may be resons that root can not make the nodule in case of non-phosphorus dressing and so tree could not absorb the nitrogen nutrient fixed by the nodule. And root competition with the weedy speces for utilizing the nutrient and oxygen in the soil could be reasons when planting in the heavy weedy rooting site. 2. Triple super phosphate, Fused Mg Phosphate and Fused super phosphate have showed the remarkable effects on the growth of soil improving species within 3rd year after planting. But Koreaan tablet fertilizer(9-12-4) for forest purpose have reacted considerably lower effect in comparision with the above powder and grain type phosphorous fertilizer. 3. In case of tablet type fertilizer tree root will have very little phosphorus absorbing surface because phosphorus can be utilized only from the tablet surface and root can not penetrate into the tablet. This my be reson to show the poor dressing reaction of tablet fertilizer but tablet fertilizer has a possibility to be utilized during long years as a sympton in photo 6. So tablet fertilizer can have a recommendation to dress much fertilizer at p]anting year and then tree root can get much more chance for absorbing the phosphorus that could keep the high survival and for utilizing it during many years without after dressing. 4. The granurar and powder type phosphate can develop the dense root mat like photo 8 because of giving the large surface for absorbing the phosphorus and weedy root can approch to the nodule for taking the nitrogen element. So this type seems to present better effect than tablet type to control the soil movement, stem weight as 200g per meter(l meter long${\times}$0.1m width). When added the lime any effect could not be found and rather give the negative effect. So Lespedeza seed sowing and phosphorus dressing system seems us to be very reasonable method for covering the raw material of basket making, fodder and fuel wood supply. 7. Fused Mg phosphate and Fused super phosphate are good fertilizer to the soil improving species and dressing more than 30g per seedling can be recommendable amount. 5. In the unproductive and dry soil with phosphorus fertilizer Robinia pseudoacacia and Alnus firnui can grow more than 2.3m in height at 3rd year and Alnus inokumae have the rapid height growth that is more than 1.8m at 2nd year. Depending on the growth situation like the above example minirotated management has possibilities and rapid covering of erosed land can be done with the soil improving species and phosphorus fertilizer. 6. In the Lespedeza sowing plot with 40g Fused Mg phosphate dressing per meter in the eroded and unproductive forest soil Lespedeza have completely covered this poor land and produced the green.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 1999

Fly ash is the fine ash particles that are flying out of chimney of the thermoelectric power plant where coals are used as fuel. There are two kinds of fly ashes from anthracite and bituminous coal. By scanning electron microscope(SEM) morphological feature of fly ash was confirmed to the exact spherical particles with the diameter variation from the fine to the largest about $50{\mu}m$(mainly silty particle). Surface of anthracite ash particle was very smooth but that of bituminous was somewhat coarse. To find the utilization of fly ash for improving soil permeability, soils of 4 kinds of different texture, clay, clay loam, sandy clay loam and sand mere applied with 7 levels of fly ash: 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100%(w/w) and their saturated hydraulic conductivity(Ks) were determined at each application by constant head method. In clay soil with low water permeability, Ks value was increased about 10 times from $10^{-8}$ to $10^{-7}m\;s^{-1}$ level with application of 10% fly ash and it was slightly increased with increasing fly ash application from 40 to 80%. In clay loam Ks value was about $10^{-7}m\;s^{-1}$ level and its value was not influenced by the fly ash application. In sandy clay loam with relatively high permeability, Ks value was decreased about 10 times from $10^{-5}$ to $10^{-6}m\;s^{-1}$ level with application of 10% fly ash and also decreased about 50 times from $10^{-5}$ to $5.0{\times}10^{-7}m\;s^{-1}$ with application of more than 20% fly ash. In sand with very high permeability, Ks value was decreased about 10 times from $10^{-4}$ to $10^{-5}m\;s^{-1}$ level with application of 10% fly ash and also decreased about 100 times from $10^{-4}$ to $10^{-6}m\;s^{-1}$ level with application of 20% fly ash and continuously decreased about 500 times from $10^{-4}$ to $5.0{\times}10^{-7}m\;s^{-1}$ level with application of more than 40% fly ash. In conclusion by fly ash application saturated hydraulic conductivity was increased in clay soil, on the contrary it was decreased in sandy soils. Fly ash may be used as a material for amelioration of soil permeability.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.199-212
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• 2007

If a type IP-2 transport package were to be subjected to a free drop test and a penetration test under the normal conditions of transport, it should prevent a loss or dispersal of the radioactive contents and a more than 20% increase in the maximum radiation level at any external surface of the package. In this paper, we suggested the analytic method to evaluate the structural safety of a type IP-2 transport package using a thick steel plate for a structure part and a bolt for tying a bolt. Using an analysis a loss or dispersal of the radioactive contents and a loss of shielding integrity were confirmed for two kinds of type IP-2 transport packages to transport radioactive waste drums from a waste facility to a temporary storage site in a nuclear power plant. Under the free drop condition the maximum average stress at the bolts and the maximum opening displacement of a lid were compared with the tensile stress of a bolt and the steps in a lid, which were made to avoid a streaming radiation in the shielding path, to evaluate a loss or dispersal of radioactive waste contents. Also a loss of shielding integrity was evaluated using the maximum decrease in a shielding thickness. To verify the impact dynamic analysis for free drop test condition and evaluate experimentally the safety of two kinds of type IP-2 transport packages, free drop tests were conducted with various drop directions. For the tests we examined the failure of bolts and the deformation of flange to evaluate a loss or dispersal of radioactive material and measured the shielding thickness using a ultrasonic thickness gauge to assess a loss of shielding integrity. The strains and accelerations acquired from tests were compared with those by analyses to verify the impact dynamic analysis. The analytic results were larger than the those of test so that the analysis showed the conservative results. Finally, we evaluated the safety of the type IP-2 transport package under the stacking test condition using a finite element analysis. Under the stacking test condition, the maximum Tresca stress of the shielding material was 1/3 of the yielding stress. Two kinds of a type IP-2 transport package were safe for the free drop test condition and the stacking test condition.